Powerful, smallish floorstanders with high WAF?

I’ve owned many small floor-standers over the years, and WAF is always paramount in our smallish 1932 San Diego home. I would highly recommend Neat Acoustics’s Motive SX2. This phenomenal 30" tall 2 way delivers deep, articulate bass that is astonishing for their size. They’re dynamic, musical, tonally accurate, expansive, heavy on the FUN factor, and in the hi-fi realm, relatively affordable. Try to track down a dealer you can audition them at, then try not to fall for them.. Good luck!

Magico S3 should fit the bill here. 12" square footprint, good looks and excellent at doing the job they were designed to do.

Bring your wallet

Dynaudio Excite

If you're buying new speakers let her choose the color / finish. That way she's in charge of the décor. Worked for me with some boxy speakers that otherwise have a low WAF. She still loves how they look. Good luck.

I have the Focal 918 profile' and went to the Sonus Faber Venere 2.5 in walnut and the wife was very pleased with the looks. In sonics, they are much livelier and balanced than the 918's. The bass is very similar, but the midrange is... beautiful. The highs are very well extended and smooth. Not smooth in a bad way, but the cymbals sound like brass instead of steal. I don't regret the Venere's at all.